Last year, we highlighted a nationwide issue with prepaid electricity meters facing expiry by November 2024, causing potential widespread outages. With the JB Marks council now implementing a program to address this, public queries have increased, prompting this article update.
The South African Local Government Association's (SALGA) 2021 survey revealed a slow response across South Africa, with only a fraction of municipalities starting the necessary updates, underscoring the urgency as the 2024 deadline approaches.
READ | Potchefstroom Faces Electricity Meter Expiration
Urgent Notification to All Community Members
On the 24th of November 2024, all 'old' meter keys will become obsolete. Consequently, tokens purchased for these meters will no longer be recognised or accepted. This necessitates a transition to new meter keys to avoid any inconvenience in electricity usage.
Key Change Token Introduction
To facilitate this transition, residents will be required to use a Key Change Token. This process involves the use of two distinct 20-digit tokens, which must be entered consecutively, similar to the procedure for credit tokens. It is crucial for residents to use all existing credit tokens before proceeding with the key change tokens. Failure to do so will result in the inability to use any remaining credit tokens post-update.
Unique Codes for Every Meter
Please be aware that each 40-digit code (comprising two 20-digit sequences) is uniquely generated for each specific meter. These codes are not interchangeable among different meters. It is imperative that you do not attempt to use your neighbour's codes on your meter, as this will not work and could potentially lead to further issues.
Recent Developments
In light of this upcoming change, financial institutions like Standard Bank have already begun issuing three tokens upon the purchase of power: two TID tokens for the meter update and an additional token for the purchased units. Instructions accompanying these tokens outline the correct sequence for their use, demonstrating readiness for the transition.
For More Information
Should you have any questions or require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the Municipal Offices at:
Tel: 018 299 5885 / 5354
Step-by-Step Instructions: Recode your Prepaid Meter
